Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1961
11-Israel; 12-Netherlands; 13-Denmark; 14-Argentina; 15-Colombia; 16-Peru; 17-Italy; 18-Venezuela; 19-Egypt; 20-Norway; 21-Austria; 22-Spain; 23-Switzerland; 24-Canada; 25-Iceland; 26-Ceylon; 27-Cuba; 28-Hawaii; 29-Taiwan; 30-Hong Kong; 31-Mexico; 32-Uruguay; 33-Korea; 34-Poland; 35-Australia; 36-India; 37-Ireland; 38-Belgium; 39-Chile; 40-Panama; 41-El Salvador; 41-Wales; 43-South Rhodesia and Nyasaland; 44-Tunisia; 45-Turkey; 46 -Philippines; 47-Paraguay; 48-New Zealand; 49-Jamaica; 50-Morocco; 51-Alaska, Guatemala; 53-Costa Rica; 54-Honduras; 55-Suriname; 56-Cyprus, Scotland; 58-Kenya; 59-Singapore; 60-Malaya; 61-Ecuador; 62-Puerto Rico; 63-Luxembourg; 64-Bolivia; 65-Lebanon; 66-Burma; 67- British Guyana, Jordan, Madagascar; 70-Nicaragua, Portugal, Tahiti, West Indies; 74-Monaco, Thailand; 76-Borneo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Gibraltar, Indonesia, Martinique, South Pacific, Tanganyika; US Virgin Islands.
UK/ENGLAND FINALLY ENTERS THE “G5”, WHERE IT WOULD BELONG FOR QUITE A LONG TIME
It´s curious to think that the British competitors were mostly ignored in Miss World throughout the 1950s, a situation that would change dramatically in the 1960s, beginning with Rosemarie Frankland´s victory in 1961. Now the UK / England moved up to the Top 5 of the Grand Slam, and would remain there for a long time.
Marlene Schmidt´s Miss Universe victory, on the other hand, pushed Germany to overcame Sweden, taking the 2nd position in the Grand Slam Ranking. Brazil entered the Top 10 for the first time and topped the Latin American nations.
Spain, after placing 3rd in Miss World and in Miss International, with Maria del Carmen Servera, was the biggest mover of the year, going 20 notches up, from 42nd to 22nd place.
Miss World Ranking in 1961 (Top 10): 1-Sweden; 2-France; 3-Germany; 4-UK; 5-South Africa; 6-United States; 7-Denmark; 8-Finland; 9-Israel; 10-Egypt;
Miss Universe Ranking in 1961 (Top 10): 1-United States; 2-Germany; 3-Sweden; 4-Japan; 5-Brazil; 6-Peru; 7-England / UK; 8-France; 9-Colombia; 10-Greece.
Miss International Ranking in 1961 (Top 10): 1-Colombia and Netherlands; 3-Iceland; 4-Brazil and India; 6-Spain; 7-Canada and England; 9-Germany, Israel, and Paraguay.
BRITISH BEAUTY TOPPED THE WORLD IN 1961
In 1961, the United Kingdom, which includes the representatives of England in Miss Universe and Miss International, was the "Country of the Year"! Rosemarie Frankland won the Miss World title, the first British woman to do so, while Arlette Dobson placed 4th in Miss Universe. It's curious that the same Rosemarie also put Wales on the "beauty map", after placing 2nd in Miss Universe. Wales debuted in the Grand Slam Ranking in 41st place. The second most successful nation of 1961 was Germany, with a Miss Universe win by Marlene Schmidt, and Top 15 placements in Miss World (Romy März), and in Miss International (Renate Moller). The Netherlands followed in 3rd place, with the victory of Constance van Baer in Miss International. The UK finally started competing as a major force in Miss World.